The Story of Adventism in the United States of America is, in the Beginning, the Story of Adventism Itself.

Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church developed in the United States, the story of the church extends back to the time of Creation. The “regional” development of Adventism, in regard to the individual who is completing this assignment, would address concerns that are specific to the “South,” specifically the area contained within the Southern Union Conference.

Some unique difficulties attended the “Southern Work” among African Americans. The commencement of Seventh-day Adventist Missionary work after the Civil War was retarded by fears that white Southerners would become enraged by any effort (especially by outsiders) to improve the lives and prospects of the millions of recently emancipated slaves. Ellen White herself urged caution, and advised an incremental evangelical effort in the South. But contemporary black leaders were not satisfied by this cautious approach. In a summary of history of black Adventism by Jacob Justiss titled “Angels in Ebony,” the writer links the attitude of Ellen G. White to that of Booker T. Washington. Both advocated the slow road to improvement in the lot of Southern blacks. Any attempt to put pressure on, or to try to bypass the entrenched “aristocracy” of the South and their blindly obedient minions was a dangerous procedure. When the promises that were made as a result of Northern victory in the Civil War were finally partially fulfilled a century later, there would be plenty of violent resistance. The Freedom Riders of 1961 faced unknown perils when they journeyed into the perilous South. In 1894 James Edson White completed construction on his small steamboat, the “Morning Star.” He, too would face unknown perils in the deep South (but as a Caucasian, his peril could never equal that of an African American who may have happened to be “in the same boat”). Here are some excerpts from a summary of that portion of “Angels in Ebony” that describes part of Ellen White’s son’s missionary venture down the Mississippi River:

Ellen G. White wrote her speech “Our Duty to the Colored People” in 1891.This work inspired many to seek to evangelize Southern blacks, including her son Edson White. Author Jacob Justiss relates an anecdote that highlights Edson’s sometimes irritable nature. In relation to Adventist Southern work, R.M. Kilgore is mentioned briefly as being creator of an educational primer geared toward potential black converts (he was director of Adventist activity in the South throughout his career). In 1895 Edson built a boat, the “Morning Star,” stocked it with primers and some white associates, then headed down the Mississippi in an attempt to promulgate some good works. Soon he was teaching blacks how to read and how to understand the Bible. In five years he started 50 churches. Along the Mississippi River he placed many schools in Vicksburg, Yazoo city, Nashville, and other places.

The South was in a particularly nasty mood in the 1890’s, and vicious attacks upon blacks and their white supporters were common. Edson managed to ruffle a lot of feathers, and was not universally beloved by the white residents of the places that sowed, planted, and watered the Word of God. Edson and crew managed, despite opposition, to plant up to 50 schools, and founded a publishing house in Nashville. An article about Edson White by Janelle Phillips (from the Oakwood archives) concludes with this anecdote: His success, unfortunately, was not universally admired.  One angry white man was prevented from beating one of Edson's assistants to death only when a more friendly white man drew a gun and protected him! By 1900 racism was so rampant that whites could no longer work for Blacks.  Providentially, through Edson White, God had raised up Black Adventists to bring the third angel's message to their own race.